We are at the dawn of a new day as our nation moves one step closer to becoming the more perfect union our forefathers envisioned. Beginning this month, nearly 48 million uninsured Americans will embark upon a path toward high-quality health care.

The NAACP has always been an organization that practices what it preaches. Our mission statement is to "ensure the political, educational, social, and economic equality of rights of all persons" -- not just men.

African-Americans make up just under 14 percent of the United States' population but represent 44 percent of all new HIV cases. If Black America was its own country, it would rank 16th in the world for HIV rates.